Dillon 550 primer problem

[fatelk]

I'm having issues with this Dillon 550 I'm trying to use.

It's a press a friend of mine bought used, doesn't know much about. I offered to borrow it, get it set up for him and show him how to use it.

I've never used a progressive press before, but have many thousands of rounds on an RCBS single stage. As such, I'm a rather particular reloader. Maybe I'm just too picky.

The problem I'm having is getting the primers to seat consistently. No matter how hard I try, many of them will not seat quite deep enough. I've tried the tips in the manual for this problem, with no sucess. The brass is mixed, but no primer crimps. I'm able to seat them OK with my RCBS hand prime tool.

Is it normal for primers to seat hard on this type of press?

 

[nicholst55]

I've never noticed any difficulty. You have a tremendous mechanical advantage when seating primers on the Dillon, too - it should be quite simple.

Perhaps you should give Dillon a call and ask them for advice.

Call Toll Free 800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009

 

[DILLONHELP]

Push down on the edge of the shellplate between stations 2 and 3. If it feels springy, then tighten the shellplate bolt a bit more. Another possibility is if the benchtop material is plywood, it is quite likely the top is flexing enough to prevent proper primer seating. Also make sure that when you push forward on the handle to seat a primer that nothing interferes with forward handle movement. Be sure the loaded cartridge chute bracket isn't preventing the handle from going fully forward.

 

[243winxb]

what dillonhelp said. Plus, on the early RL-450 Dillon (the new models may have it??) Look at the bottom of the ram/shell plate unit. There is an adjustment for the primer seating depth/travel. This could stop you from seating the primer fully if out of adjustment.

 

[243winxb]

If the primers as CCI small pistol std./magmum primers, this could be your problem. Some lots seat harder than others. This is not as noticiable when using a hand prime tool. I like to use Winchester primer in a progressive press for this reason, and the win primer also seems to have a taper to the leading edge so it finds the primer pocket easer.

 

[fatelk]

Thanks everyone, especially DILLONHELP (I assume you're the expert) I thought I had the shellplate just right, but it was slightly loose. I was also using CCI large pistol primers that are ten or fifteen years old. I tried some new Winchester primers and that made a difference, too.

It's working nearly perfect now, except occasionally some primers seem ever-so-slightly canted, with one side below flush, and the other side a couple thousands of an inch above flush. Don't know if this is normal, but it doesn't really bother me.

 

[sigma40sw]

550 Primer Seating problems

I have a Dillon 550 with many thousand rds on it. When I have primer seating problems, the first thing I check is the "bell crank". This is the cast part that the handle and the ram are attached to. In 23 years of use,I have broken 4 of these on my press. When it cracks,it will flex,and not seat the primers to the proper depth.

Dillons service is great, I just call and they send me a new one

 

[Bronson7]

That problem was just one of the primer problems I had with my 550.
I called Dillon and they gave me the info that you're getting now. It didn't work. I discovered the real problem was one of the screws holding on the part that you slide the case into station one. It wasn't counter sunk deep enough and preventing the ram from coming down far enough as the screw head makes firm contact with the primer slider limiting downward movement of the ram.. I removed it, countersunk it deeper, and that was that. Evidently, Dillon wasn't aware of that problem. If that happens to be your problem, get the alignment tool from Dillon. I removed the carrier from my 550 to access the affected part, so I had to re-align it (very important).
Bronson7

 

[C. H. Luke]

"It's working nearly perfect now, except occasionally some primers seem ever-so-slightly canted, with one side below flush, and the other side a couple thousands of an inch above flush."

You mention it is a "Used" 550, how used? Other owner may not have taken care of it or known how to perform proper maint., etc.? There is no reason ALL the primers should not be seated the proper depth below "flush"! {Both own "Ratty" 550's have never had this affliction, FWIW}

From hard experience have "found" that the primer seating "anvil" can become worn enough that it wears into the primer cup or "collar' that encompasses it. If it's rotated even a few degree's will stick & do all sorts of bad stuff. Best to remove the entire seating ram from the primer slide bar via the Allen screw to check for wear. Since you have it out and apart may as well replace the special spring with the ground-flats at ea. end. This small series of parts can get a continuous "shower" of junk from the primer cups of the cases when the expended caps are popped out! So it's easy to see how that horrid, fine black "stuff" can work its way into & between the ram, {13967} spring {14033} & cup {13824} of the primer seating sys.
If it were mine, would replace all 3 parts and start fresh as the cup needs to sit nice and parallel so it does not drag on the sides of the hole in the Rams platform when you re-adjust the primer slide bar as a unit.

If you decide to replace or disassemble the primer ram sys. would also measure its height with calipers before removing the Allen head. Dillon has a published max height for the ram/cup assembly but d/n have it at hand. A call via their 800# will get it and other tips as needed.....

See Also:

http://www.dillonhelp.com/rl550enghelp/rl550b/rl550_pg1.htm#crush


RL 550B Automatic Primer System:

http://www.dillonhelp.com/rl550benglish/primer_sys_b.gif

http://www.dillonhelp.com/rl550benglish/auto_primer_schematic.htm

 

[fatelk]

Thanks for the further info. I actually just gave the thing back to my friend, or I would check those things out. He offered to sell it to me, but I declined. I think I'll stick to my old Rock-Chuck.

I did load up about 1000 each of .45 and 9mm, enough to last me a very long time. It was working well enough by the time I was done, but I really had to watch for bits of powder or debris getting into the primer seater and making ugly little dents in the primers.

I realize now that I really don't shoot enough to justify a progressive, and all in all I wasn't very impressed.